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  1. #371
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    Alpine 'EXPECT' to beat Mercedes and race Ferrari at Spanish Grand Prix.
    Alpine's Sporting director Alan Permane says the French team "expects" to be ahead of eight-time constructors champions Mercedes and race Ferrari at the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix.
    Wednesday 31 May 2023 13:57
    Jay Winter
    GPFans

    Although Monaco can be known to produce one-off winners due to its unique nature, Permane is adamant that their car isn't only competitive in Monte Carlo. "I don't think this is a Monaco special car," he said. "It is just the upgrades we put on for Imola and also for here... the car is working well. I fully expect to be in front of Mercedes and with Ferrari at the next race."

    While the British engineer seems to have high hopes for his team, Permane also shut down the idea they could challenge Aston Martin or Red Bull. "Max is too far away, and when Checo is on his game, he will be as well," he explained.

    "Fernando is going to be very difficult but I don't see why we can't race with Ferrari and Mercedes, which we have done [in Monaco] and as we did do in Miami as well. They were quicker than us ultimately, but we were in a race with them. That is where we are aiming for."

    ‘French team "expects"!’;

    https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...-2023-preview/


    ‘Define the path’ – What’s at stake for Mercedes in Barcelona
    Jun 1 2023
    By Edd Straw
    The Race

    The performance and behaviour of the upgraded Mercedes Formula 1 car at this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix will “define the path ahead for us”, according to trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin.

    The underfloor, front suspension and new sidepods were the key elements of the upgrade, which team principal Toto Wolff characterised as “a fundamental shift in the design direction”. This is the first step in this concept, on which Mercedes will continue to build not just this year but with next year’s car.

    The current Mercedes W14 is a compromised version of this new direction thanks to being constrained by aspects of the car architecture that cannot be changed this year either It’s already an improvement, but it’s necessary to accumulate real-world data to correlate with the design and development work being done at the team’s Brackley base. This will feed into not just the development plan for the rest of the year, but also the 2024 car project.

    ‘Car architecture: Define the path’;

    https://the-race.com/formula-1/defin...-in-barcelona/


    F1 - 2023 Spanish GP SCHEDULE OF PRESS CONFERENCES
    17:08 Wed, 31 May 2023.
    FIA (Press Release)

    THURSDAY, 01 JUNE
    Press Conference:
    1430hrs
    Zhou Guanyu (Alfa Romeo)
    Esteban Ocon (Alpine)
    Nico Hulkenberg (Haas)
    George Russell (Mercedes)
    Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
    1505hrs
    Nyck De Vries (AlphaTauri)
    Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
    Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
    Lando Norris (McLaren)
    Logan Sargeant (Williams)

    TV Pen:
    1430hrs
    Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri)
    Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
    Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
    Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
    Sergio Pérez (Red Bull)
    1505hrs
    Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo)
    Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
    Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
    Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
    Alex Albon (Williams)

    ‘FIA (Press Release)’;

    https://www.fia.com/news/f1-2023-spa...ss-conferences


    What tyres will the teams and drivers have for the 2023 Spanish Grand Prix?
    31 May 2023
    Formula One - Official Site

    “Traditionally, Barcelona has been one of the most popular venues for testing: both for cars and tyres,” said Pirelli Motorsport Director Mario Isola. “It’s a complete track, featuring several different types of speeds and corners, and it also has a very long straight. As a result, aerodynamic efficiency is key to being competitive.

    “The final sector has been modified for this year, reverting to the original layout without a final chicane. This makes it a much more flowing track now and also adds to the entry speed onto the main straight. There are two corners, Turn 3 and Turn 9, which are particularly demanding in terms of lateral forces exerted on the tyres.”

    “We’ve chosen the same three types of tyre as the season-opener in Bahrain, but it’s important to remember, when comparing to last year, that this year’s C1 is an entirely new compound, specifically designed to bridge the gap between the hardest tyre in the range (now called the C0) and the C2.”

    ‘What tyres’;

    https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...RI0Kk4MBr.html


    Spanish GP: F1 2023's true pecking order to be revealed at Circuit de Catalunya this weekend?
    Last Updated: 01/06/23 6:21am
    By Jonathan Green
    SKY

    Red Bull remain team to beat in Barcelona after 100 per cent start to year, but order behind intriguing as Mercedes, Aston Martin, Ferrari and Alpine run upgrades on representative circuit

    The Circuit de Catalunya is arguably the most familiar to the drivers and teams, having regularly played host to testing sessions over the years. Several teams will be running upgrades on their cars this weekend, either for the first time or certainly running them for the first time in representative conditions.

    "Barcelona is the best judge of a chassis - it's all about chassis and aero there," Sky Sports F1's Martin Brundle said. So as the development war steps up, could we see F1 2023's true pecking order begin to emerge?

    ‘F1 2023's true pecking order to be revealed’;

    https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12...a-this-weekend


    Verstappen to confirm F1 fears?: What to expect at the Spanish GP
    31 May 5:15PM
    Author Ewan Gale
    RacingNews365

    Formula 1 returns to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for the Spanish Grand Prix with a revision to the track layout. The old double right-hander to finish the lap has returned, signalling an end to the slower chicane that had replaced the corner in 2007.

    Max Verstappen took the upper hand over Sergio Perez in the F1 title battle after contrasting fortunes at the Monaco Grand Prix, whilst Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon secured podiums behind the Dutchman. So what should you expect from the Spanish GP weekend?

    ‘Alonso to spark Spanish fiesta, Mercedes' first real look at upgrade package, Alpine recover from Rossi polemics, Chicance removal to aid overtaking?’;

    https://racingnews365.com/verstappen...the-spanish-gp

  2. #372
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    EL PLAN.

    Spanish Grand Prix: Fernando Alonso gears up for success at home.
    It’s been nearly a decade since there was this much hype surrounding the Spanish Grand Prix.
    1st June 2023, 08:25
    The Telegraph, Calcutta

    41-year-old arrives revitalized with Aston Martin team that is one of the surprises of the season and has been running near top from start. The last time the Formula One crowd in Spain had such high hopes of celebrating a victory by Fernando Alonso — the country’s biggest racing idol — was back in 2013, when the two-time champion was driving for Ferrari.

    Alonso went on to win that race in Barcelona, but since then has never been in a realistic position to make it to the top step of the podium again at home. That was his last win in F1 anywhere, and the last by any Spaniard in the local race. The 41-year-old Alonso arrives revitalized with an Aston Martin team that is one of the surprises of the season and has been running near the top from the start.

    Alonso has five podium finishes in six races so far, and is coming off a season-best second-place finish in Monaco last weekend. The Spaniard said he doesn’t want to “disappoint anyone” by coming into his home race with too many expectations, and will not put “any pressure on my team or myself.”

    ‘EL PLAN: Arrives revitalized’;

    https://www.newsnow.co.uk/h/Sport/F1...ernando+Alonso


    Alonso: Title chances remote against Red Bull but 'not giving up'
    31/05/2023 at 09:21
    Phillip van Osten
    F1i.com

    Fernando Alonso admits that Red Bull currently remains out of reach of its F1 rivals, but the Spaniard isn't giving up yet on his title chances this season with Aston Martin. Alonso secured his best result of the season in last weekend's Monaco Grand Prix, finishing second behind the race's unassailable winner Max Verstappen.

    The 41-year-old's fifth podium in six races has positioned him third in the Driver's standings, 51 points adrift from Verstappen but just 12 points behind the Dutchman's Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez. While Verstappen continues to extend his lead in the championship with each passing race, Alonso isn't conceding the title to the bulls yet.

    "We will need weekends where Red Bull has some issues, like Sergio [Perez] had here [in Monaco] with the DNF or zero points. And if Max has one or two of those, we will be a little bit closer in the championship. This is motorsport. Anything can happen. But on pure pace. I think we don't have the chance yet. But we will not give up for sure."

    ‘EL PLAN: Need weekends where Red Bull has some issues’;

    https://f1i.com/news/475899-alonso-t...giving-up.html


    Revived Barcelona layout to be ‘more fun’ – Alonso
    1st June 2023, 07:44
    ANDREW MAITLAND
    Grandpx.news

    The big novelty at this weekend’s Spanish GP will be the absence of the slow chicane at the end of the Circuit de Catalunya layout. “New protection and deceleration systems” including Tecpro barriers “allow the corners to be reinstated” a spokesman for the Barcelona track said at the time.

    16 years after his aforementioned statement, the now 41-year-old Alonso admits he is looking forward to racing his Aston Martin through the revived corners. “I think it will probably be more fun to drive like this,” he is quoted by Diario Sport.

    “That section was too slow for our cars. It wasn’t fun to race there, but we have to wait and see if this new design helps with overtaking.”

    ‘EL PLAN: More fun’;

    https://grandpx.news/revived-barcelo...re-fun-alonso/


    Revitalized Alonso gives Spaniards hope of ending winning drought at home in F1
    May 31, 2023 9:13 AM PT
    BY TALES AZZONI
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
    U-T San Diego

    It’s been nearly a decade since there was this much hype surrounding the Spanish Grand Prix.
    The last time the Formula One crowd in Spain had such high hopes of celebrating a victory by Fernando Alonso — the country’s biggest racing idol — was back in 2013, when the two-time champion was driving for Ferrari.

    “I’m looking forward to seeing all of the Spanish and Aston Martin fans out in full force supporting our team,” Alonso said Wednesday. “I hope to see lots of green in the grandstands over the weekend. So far, we have scored lots of third places, a second place in Monaco and the next one we need is the top step. To do this we have to maximize every part of our weekend and capitalize on any opportunities that may come our way.”

    Alonso said he won’t be obsessed with winning at home, and will try to “enjoy every moment” of what he called a “celebration” in Barcelona. A record crowd is expected this weekend to support Alonso and fellow Spaniard Carlos Sainz Jr. at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. More than 40,000 tickets were sold in the first few hours after being put on sale last year, and more tickets were made available again earlier this year. More than 100,000 people are expected for Sunday’s race.

    ‘EL PLAN: Ending winning drought’;

    https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com...-at-home-in-f1


    Aston Martin 'will be the next Red Bull' as Christian Horner makes Fernando Alonso point
    Red Bull are dominating the Formula 1 world this season, but Aston Martin have made remarkable progress and have shown signs of being able to compete with the leaders
    15:55, 31 May 2023
    By Daniel Moxon F1 Writer
    The Mirror

    Aston Martin WILL dominate the Formula 1 world in the future, in the eyes of Sky Sports commentator David Croft. Aston Martin have delivered a competitive car, have hired scores of top staff from rival team and are building new state-of-the-art facilities at their Silverstone base. With all that in mind, Croft is confident that title challenges are in the team's future.

    "There'll be a wind tunnel to come as well. There'll be a conference centre eventually on that. There'll be an engine project with Honda. They'll be making their own gearboxes," he said on the Sky Sports F1 podcast. "They'll no longer be getting technical support from other people. They'll be doing it all themselves.”

    "With that comes challenges, but with that comes a lot more advanced information as to where the mounting points for the engine are going to be on the chassis, for instance. They could be, and I think they will be, the next Red Bull in Formula 1 – they've got the vision, they've got the money, they've got the strategy, they've got the people."

    ‘EL PLAN: Aston Martin WILL dominate the Formula 1 world’;

    https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...lonso-30123127

  3. #373
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    EL PLAN: “A special energy”

    Alonso addresses chances of Spanish GP victory as home fans give him 'special energy'.
    Fernando Alonso will have the home crowd on his side, saying he always finds the fans give him “a special energy” when he races here.
    01 June 2023
    Formula One - Official Site

    The 12th of May 2013 is the date on everyone’s minds – the last time Fernando Alonso crossed the line to take the chequered flag and win in Formula 1. A decade may have passed by the Spaniard but he has lost none of his sharpness and is on an incredible run of results heading into his home race.

    Having never finished lower than fourth this season – his first as an Aston Martin driver – the Spaniard already has five podiums to show for himself with second in Monaco last weekend the closest he’s come to a win in nine years. As a result, many are asking when he can finally break the drought and make it to the top step of the podium.

    For the romantics, Spain would be a perfect location to do that but the Aston Martin man is keeping those expectations measured. “I don’t think realistically we can fight for the victory, let’s be clear,” he said. “Red Bull have been very dominant all season long and I don’t see any reason why, in Barcelona, they should not aim for a one-two. But let’s see what we can do.”

    ‘EL PLAN: “A special energy”;

    https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...BxXfH7P5C.html


    Alonso out to claim 33rd victory at home
    Aston Martin driver and Max Verstappen ready for Barcelona battle
    ALAN BALDWIN
    01 JUNE 2023 - 17:11
    Financial Mail

    Max Verstappen took his first Grand Prix win at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya with 33 on his car in 2016 and the same number will be a focus for Fernando Alonso fans when the Spaniard returns to the scene of his last victory.

    “Mission 33” — the long-awaited 33rd career win — has been a rallying cry for fans of the 41-year-old Spaniard, now enjoying a revival with Aston Martin. His 32nd win was with Ferrari in May 2013 and Sunday’s race could be emotional.

    If the heart beats for Alonso, with even Verstappen admitting in Monaco last weekend that he would love to see his fellow double champion win again, the head points to Red Bull’s runaway championship leader.

    ‘EL PLAN: “Mission 33”;

    https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/sp...ctory-at-home/


    PADDOCK INSIDER: Alonso's inspired Aston Martin move could yield so much – and what a story it would be
    01 June 2023
    Lawrence Barretto
    F1 Correspondent & Presenter
    Formula One - Official Site

    When Fernando Alonso left Formula 1 at the end of 2018, after 17 years in the sport, the Spaniard did not know what the future would hold. Despite his near unrivalled belief in his own ability, even he knew coming back in a driving capacity – and with a team that could compete – was a long shot.

    “We will come back maybe one day as a tourist and as a commentator and enjoy Formula 1 in a different way,” he said after the 2018 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – a race where he finished 11th after a wild performance that saw him pick up three penalty points in three separate incidents.

    Fast forward four-and-a-half years and Alonso can hardly believe what is happening to him. After a first F1 career ladened with near misses, bad luck and some bad judgement in terms of team moves, the double world champion – at 41 – has found himself in a position to achieve what looked like the impossible, a return to the top step of the podium.

    ‘EL PLAN: The impossible’;

    https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...Zo5IolZYr.html


    Alonso: Spanish GP win unrealistic with 'very dominant' Red Bull
    01 June 2023
    Ben Issatt
    Inside Racing

    The omens for the double world champion to score victory No.33 at his home race have been coming thick and fast in the build-up to this weekend's race in Barcelona. However, on Thursday, Alonso, who claimed his last F1 win came in Spain back in 2013, was quick to pop the hype balloon with a dose of reality.

    “It feels good. Obviously, there is a special energy every time in Spain when I come here and I see all the fans," he said ahead of his 25th F1 race weekend in his home country via Formula1.com. “I don’t think, realistically, we can fight for the victory. Let’s be clear," Alonso stated.

    “Red Bull has been very dominant all season long so I don’t see any reason why in Barcelona they should not aim for a one-two, but let’s see what we can do. A few updates for everybody, especially for Ferrari and Mercedes in Monaco, so let’s see.”

    ‘EL PLAN: Let’s be clear’;

    https://www.insideracing.com/formula...inant-red-bull


    Fernando Alonso highlights negative impact of Aston Martin’s unexpected rise
    01 Jun 2023 8:30 PM
    Jamie Woodhouse
    PlanetF1.com

    While Aston Martin are delivering beyond all expectations so far in F1 2023, Fernando Alonso highlighted that this means the team is struggling to match the development rate of their rivals.

    The development war is truly now ramping up though for F1 2023, Mercedes having introduced a heavily-revised W14 in Monaco, while this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix is set to mark the introduction of major upgrades at Ferrari.

    And Alonso believes this is putting Aston Martin’s immaturity in terms of experience in the upper echelons of the grid on full display, in-season development being an area of their game which they must “speed up” in future to hang with the likes of Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari.

    EL PLAN: In-season development, “speed up”;

    https://www.planetf1.com/news/fernan...de-slow-speed/


    'Search for perfection difficult in changing conditions' - Fernando Alonso defends Aston's Monaco strategy
    01 Jun 2023
    Formula One - Official Site (Video)

    Speaking ahead of the 2023 Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, Fernando Alonso is only positive regarding the Aston Martin team's P2 performance last time out.

    EL PLAN: Only positive’;

    https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...122423222.html

  4. #374
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    Spain GP FP1: Red Bull 1-2 with Ferrari’s old-spec SF-23 faster than the new version.
    Red Bull led the way from start to finish in the opening practice hour for the Spanish GP, delivering a crushing blow to Mercedes and Ferrari’s recent upgrades.
    02 Jun 2023 1:34 PM
    Michelle Foster
    PlanetF1.com

    Although Mercedes delivered a heavily updated W14 in Monaco and Ferrari followed suit in Spain, neither team was able to take the fight to Red Bull in FP1 at the Barcelona circuit.

    Running new prototype tyres for Pirelli, and new parts, for Ferrari and Aston Martin, Friday’s practice got underway under a sense of anticipation as the crowd waited to see whether their leading Spaniards, Sainz and Fernando Alonso, could take the fight to Red Bull.
    From the get-go, they were off the pace.

    For those testing new parts, Hamilton was seventh, 2.2s down, while Sainz, running the new Ferrari parts in a back-to-back test with his team-mate Leclerc, was a further 0.04s back. As Sainz whipped into the pits for his first stop of the session for new tyres, the flo-vis paint on his upgraded Ferrari was evident with the Spaniard covering 15 laps in the first 20 minutes.

    ‘Crushing blow’;

    https://www.planetf1.com/news/spain-...23-fp1-report/


    (FP1) First Practice Results – 2023 Spanish Grand Prix
    2nd June 2023
    by Emer Hedderman
    FormulaSpy

    Results (Classification):
    1. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing – 1:14.606
    2. Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing +0.768
    3. Esteban Ocon Alpine +0.812
    4. Nyck de Vries AlphaTauri +0.898
    5. Pierre Gasly Alpine +0.939
    6. Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +0.941
    7. Kevin Magnussen Haas +1.083
    8. Charles Leclerc Scuderia Ferrari +1.088
    9. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari +1.120
    10. George Russell Mercedes +1.147

    ‘Spanish Grand Prix – Here are the complete results from the first practice session ahead of this weekend’s 2023 F1 World Championship race in Barcelona’;

    https://formulaspy.com/f1/fp1-first-...and-prix-82226


    LIVE COVERAGE: Follow all the action from first practice for the Spanish Grand Prix
    3rd June 2023, 12:30
    Becky Hart.
    Special Contributor
    Formula One - Official Site

    ‘As it Happened’;

    https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...3doYrpq4q.html


    F1 Spanish Grand Prix - Friday Practice - LIVE UPDATES
    2nd June 2023, 2:31
    Reporting By: Connor McDonagh
    Crash.Net1

    ‘LIVE UPDATES!’;

    https://www.crash.net/f1/live/f1-spa...e-live-updates


    Unhappy Max Verstappen tops FP1 ahead of Spanish GP
    June 2, 2023
    By Andrew Wright
    Total Motorsport

    Max Verstappen posted the fastest lap of the first practice session ahead of the 2023 Spanish Grand Prix. The Dutchman carried on where he left off in Monaco, topping the timesheet in Barcelona courtesy of a 1:14.606 on the soft tyres that was good enough to finish almost eight tenths clear of Sergio Perez.

    It might have appeared smooth sailing, but it sounded anything but from inside the cockpit, as Verstappen complained about his engine mode and porpoising. Despite that, he was in a league of his own, with the majority of drivers struggling to get within a second of his benchmark time.

    Esteban Ocon continued his fine form to take third ahead of his teammate in fifth, with Nyck de Vries surprisingly splitting the Alpines in fourth. Home hero Fernando Alonso was the best part of a second down on the ultimate pace in sixth, perhaps underlining the superiority of the Red Bull.

    ‘Unhappy Max tops FP1’;

    https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...ops-spain-fp1/


    Verstappen leads Perez by seven-tenths as times tumble at revised Catalunya track
    2023 Spanish Grand Prix first practice
    Posted on 2nd June 2023, 13:522nd June 2023, 13:52
    Written by Will Wood
    RaceFans

    Championship leader Max Verstappen led team mate Sergio Perez by seven tenths of a second as drivers familiarised themselves with the revised layout of the Circuit de Catalunya. Aston Martin sent Fernando Alonso out the moment the green light appeared at the end of the pitlane with a large aero rake installed on his AMR22. He performed some slow laps to generate some base data for his team on their new front and rear wings parts before returning to the pit lane.

    Teams were also testing the new construction of tyres from Pirelli which are due to be introduced at the British Grand Prix in three rounds’ time. The vast majority of teams opted to run those prototype tyres for their initial laps, although the two Mercedes drivers of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell both decided to complete runs on the revised rubber.

    Many drivers had their first experience of the much faster turn 13 as they bypassed the chicane which was introduced in 2007. However many drivers, including Verstappen and Russell, reported some porpoising in their car as they rounded the final right hander at speeds of 250kph.

    ‘Times tumble’;

    https://www.racefans.net/2023/06/02/...talunya-track/

  5. #375
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    Verstappen completes Spanish GP Friday clean sweep.
    The two-time champion set a benchmark of 1:13.907 to finish 0.170secs faster than Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso.
    02 June 6:00PM
    Author Ewan Gale
    RacingNews365

    Max Verstappen completed a Friday clean sweep at the Spanish Grand Prix by finishing top of second practice at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Verstappen had underlined Red Bull's early dominance with a margin of almost eight-tenths over teammate Sergio Perez and will enter the weekend as the driver to beat.

    The session was dominated by continued struggles with a bump at the final corner which has been exaggerated by increased speeds compared to previous years after the old chicane was removed from the layout. Drivers have experienced excessive bouncing due to cars bottoming, with the Ferraris and Mercedes' struggling to comply more than their rivals.

    ‘Clean sweep’;

    https://racingnews365.com/verstappen...ay-clean-sweep


    Verstappen still fastest but Alonso comes closest in second practice
    2023 Spanish Grand Prix second practice
    Posted on 2nd June 2023, 17:19
    Written by Will Wood
    RaceFans

    2023 Spanish Grand Prix second practice result
    Position Number Driver Team Model Time Gap Laps
    1 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull-Honda RBPT RB19 1’13.907 33
    2 14 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin-Mercedes AMR23 1’14.077 0.170 29
    3 27 Nico Hulkenberg Haas-Ferrari VF-23 1’14.177 0.270 31
    4 11 Sergio Perez Red Bull-Honda RBPT RB19 1’14.219 0.312 29
    5 31 Esteban Ocon Alpine-Renault A523 1’14.242 0.335 29
    6 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari SF-23 1’14.246 0.339 31
    7 55 Carlos Sainz Jnr Ferrari SF-23 1’14.274 0.367 31
    8 63 George Russell Mercedes W14 1’14.392 0.485 31
    9 77 Valtteri Bottas Alfa Romeo-Ferrari C43 1’14.448 0.541 31
    10 10 Pierre Gasly Alpine-Renault A523 1’14.457 0.550 28

    ‘FULL 2023 Spanish Grand Prix second practice result’;

    https://www.racefans.net/2023/06/02/...cond-practice/


    LIVE COVERAGE: Follow all the action from second practice for the Spanish Grand Prix
    02 June 2023
    Formula One - Official Site

    ‘As it happened’;

    https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...GVNqzB4Xo.html


    How Friday practice for the F1 Spanish Grand Prix unfolded
    2nd June 2023, 12:31
    Reporting By: Connor McDonagh
    Crash.Net

    ‘How Friday practice unfolded’;

    https://www.crash.net/f1/live/f1-spa...e-live-updates


    Spanish GP FP2: Max Verstappen pips Fernando Alonso to top spot, Hulkenberg P3
    02 Jun 2023 5:01 PM
    Henry Valantine
    PlanetF1.com

    Just as they were for most of the Monaco weekend, Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso were locked together at the top of the standings in FP2 for the Spanish Grand Prix.

    The Aston Martin driver looking particularly planted through the fast Turn 14 and setting a purple sector 3 to go second quickest of anybody, 0.170s behind Verstappen’s benchmark, while team-mate Lance Stroll could only manage P18, nine tenths off Alonso’s pace in the session.

    The closeness of the pack in practice also hints that qualifying could well be a tight session once again, as was the case in Monaco, though if anyone is going to challenge at the front of the field, Alonso or Perez look the most likely based on Friday’s evidence.

    ‘Pips Fernando’;

    https://www.planetf1.com/news/spanis...23-fp2-report/


    Max Verstappen quickest in Spanish GP FP2 as Fernando Alonso closes in
    The championship leader set the fastest time of the second practice session in Spain
    June 2, 2023
    By Andrew Wright
    Total Motorsport

    Max Verstappen made it a Friday clean sweep at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, setting the fastest lap of the second practice session at the 2023 Spanish Grand Prix. The world champion cut a frustrated figure during FP1 and complained of porpoising but appeared happier when cars returned to the track for FP2.

    That being said, his gap at the top of the timesheet was cut from nearly eight tenths to less than two, with his 1:13.907s on the soft tyres leaving him 0.170s ahead of the Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso. The Spaniard also ended the session able to match Verstappen closest in terms of race pace, setting up the prospect of an exciting GP.

    ‘Fernando Alonso closes in’;

    https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...alonso-closes/

  6. #376
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    EL PLAN.

    Alonso taking energy from vocal home crowd as he looks to ‘put on a good show’ following P2 in Friday practice.
    Offering his thoughts at the end of day one, Alonso said: “I think it’s so tight that one or two-tenths will put you in a completely different spot on the classification, so don’t pay too much attention on the times.”
    02 June 2023
    Formula One - Official Site.

    Fernando Alonso enjoyed a strong start to his home Grand Prix weekend as he placed second to Max Verstappen on the opening day of practice at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, describing FP1 and FP2 as a “productive” pair of sessions.

    Asked if Aston Martin’s latest updates – which include developments around the front and rear wing – are helping him, he commented: “They do, they do. Absolutely. There is not a new part that we put in the car that is not helping the performance. That is something that has been always the case with the team from Bahrain. I’m happy with upgrades, and let’s see tomorrow, when everyone goes to full power, where we are.”

    ‘EL PLAN: Taking energy’;


    Alonso aiming to repay 'special energy' of Spanish fans
    02/06/2023 at 19:31
    Andrew Lewin
    F1i.com

    "I heard 67 per cent of the merchandise on the grandstand is green, which is amazing,” he beamed, comparing it to his heyday with Renault. “This is going back to the 2005, 2006, 2007 years, where everything was in one colour. I really feel that support, that special energy," he continued. "It was amazing at the fan forum this morning.”

    "While driving I cannot hear them, but I feel how enthusiastic they are, so hopefully we put in a good show for them.” But he's not getting carried away: “It’s so close over one lap that I think a couple of tenths will put you in a completely different position in the classification, so we won’t read too much into the times. We went through all the programme that we had before the free practice, which is a good thing, learning about the tyres," he said.

    ‘EL PLAN: 'Special energy'

    https://f1i.com/news/476250-alonso-a...nish-fans.html


    Alonso hot on Verstappen's heels in second Spanish GP practice
    02 June 2023, 18:44
    BY REUTERS
    Times LIVE

    Red Bull's Formula One championship leader Max Verstappen set the pace in both practice sessions for the Spanish Grand Prix on Friday, with home hero Fernando Alonso delighting the crowd with the second fastest lap.

    The Dutch driver was 0.768 seconds quicker than Mexican team mate and closest rival Sergio Perez in the first session and then 0.170 faster than Aston Martin's Alonso in the late afternoon.

    Alonso's 32nd and last win was at the same circuit a decade ago with Ferrari and his form at the age of 41 — with five podiums in six races including second in Monaco last weekend — has fired up the fans.

    ‘EL PLAN: Fired up fans’;

    https://www.timeslive.co.za/motoring...h-gp-practice/


    Mercedes struggles continue in FP2 as Alonso closes gap to Verstappen
    Friday 2 June 2023 18:24
    Matthew Hobkinson
    GPFans

    Max Verstappen put in another impressive performance in second practice to top the timing sheets, but Fernando Alonso ramped the pressure up on both Red Bull and the Dutchman after he ended up just 0.170secs behind him in second place.

    Alonso made sure that the two-time world champion will be checking his rear-view mirrors ahead of Saturday's qualifying. The F1 veteran, who finished nearly a second behind Verstappen in first practice, roared back to life in the following session to end up within two-tenths of the Red Bull driver.

    ‘EL PLAN: Verstappen will be checking his rear-view mirrors’;

    https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...bull-mercedes/


    Fernando Alonso omen spotted at Spanish Grand Prix as sign points to victory on home soil.
    Alonso has not won an F1 race for a decade but has enjoyed a remarkable season so far this year and looks the man most likely to be the first to challenge the Red Bulls as the performance gap closes.
    16:48, 2 Jun 2023
    By Daniel Moxon F1 Writer
    The Mirror

    The fairytale outcome would be for that victory to come in front of those adoring Spanish fans. Alonso has waited 10 years to get back onto the top step of the podium in F1 – this very same event in 2013 being the last time he did so.

    His next F1 win will be the 33rd of his career, which happens to be Verstappen's race number – when he's not sporting the '1' reserved for the defending world champion. So fans have been keeping an eye out for any further signs of that figure, fuelled by Alonso himself who has declared it to be a "good number".

    So they were very excited when the official F1 social media accounts pointed out the fact Alonso's car is housed in garage 33 at the Circuit de Catalunya this weekend. The more superstitious felt it was an omen that the 41-year-old could do something special.

    ‘EL PLAN: ‘33’;

    https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...appen-30142134


    Formula 1: 'Special energy' inspires Fernando Alonso at Spanish Grand Prix practice
    Fernando Alonso said he was delighted with the big turnout of fans bedecked in the Aston Martin green in the grandstands
    June 03, 2023 09:23:11 IST
    Agence France-Presse
    Firstpost

    Two-time former world champion Fernando Alonso said his army of home fans had given him a “special energy” on Friday when he was second behind Max Verstappen in opening practice for the Spanish Grand Prix.

    The 41-year-old Spaniard, who has reeled off five podium finishes for Aston Martin in six races this year to take third place behind the two dominant Red Bull drivers in the championship, was only 0.17 seconds slower than Verstappen. “It is so tight here,” he said.

    ‘EL PLAN: Fans bedecked in the Aston Martin green’;


    Fernando Alonso: “The upgrades we’ve introduced are helping the performance of the car”
    June 2, 2023
    By Paul Hensby
    The Checkered Flag

    Fernando Alonso says it is too early to take anything away from the timing screens at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, despite the Spaniard ending second fastest overall to Max Verstappen.

    “A lot of the grandstands are green and our Aston Martin merchandise is very popular,” he said. “The fans have been amazing and it’s great to see their support. Hopefully we can put on a good show for them tomorrow.”

    Alonso feels Aston Martin’s recent updates to the AMR23 have helped the performance of the car, and he is keen to see where they will end up during Saturday’s Qualifying session amongst a field that appears to be extremely closely matched.

    ‘EL PLAN: Upgrades helping performance’;

    https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2...ce-of-the-car/


    Aston Martin have “more time to find” after successful upgrade – Alonso.
    2023 Spanish Grand Prix
    Posted on 2nd June 2023, 18:16
    Written by Will Wood and Claire Cottingham
    RaceFans

    Fernando Alonso says Aston Martin have “more time to find” in their set up after finishing Friday closest to Max Verstappen. With half a second covering the top eight drivers, Alonso says he expects a competitive weekend at the front of the field. “It’s so tight that I think one or two tenths will put you in a completely different spot in the classification,” he said. “So don’t pay too much attention to the times.”

    “There is not a new part that we put in the car that is not helping the performance,” he continued. “That’s something that has been always the case with the team from Bahrain. So I’m happy with the upgrades and let’s see tomorrow, when everyone goes to full power, where we are.

    ‘EL PLAN: “More time to find” ’;

    https://www.racefans.net/2023/06/02/...pgrade-alonso/

  7. #377
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    FP3: Verstappen quickest in mixed FP3 conditions.
    Spanish Grand Prix – Max Verstappen was fastest in a Red Flagged and rain-affected final practice where there was only proper running in the opening minutes.
    3rd June 2023
    by Emer Hedderman
    FormulaSpy

    With rain imminent, and lightning already lighting up the skies, the cars all lined up at the end of the pit lane to get whatever dry times that they could possibly get. The Williams cars were at the head of the queue Logan Sargeant opened the times with a 1:16.529 on the softs. Teams had been predicting rain about ten/fifteen minutes into the session but it wasn’t rain that stopped the dry running but a Red Flag after nine minutes when Sargeant’s Williams got out of shape going through the final corner sending him through the gravel and ended up beached at the barriers.

    After five minutes all but the AlphaTauri and Ferraris, who’d sone install laps on hards or mediums before switching to the softs, had set times and it was Max Verstappen at the top of the charts with a 1:13.664, two and a half tenths ahead of his teammate Sergio Perez while the Mercedes cars of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell were behind them.

    The leaderboard didn’t change after the Red Flag so it was Verstappen on top ahead of Perez and Hamilton. Carlos Sainz was P4 ahead of Alonso and Russell. Charles Leclerc’s 1:14.353 saw him in P7 just ahead of Valtteri Bottas while Yuki Tsunoda was the last driver within a second of Verstappen. Norris and Zhou Guanyu had both set a 1:14.681 but the McLaren racer was the first to do so so he took P10.

    ‘Max Verstappen fasted’;

    https://formulaspy.com/f1/verstappen...nditions-82317


    (FP3) Third Practice Results – 2023 Spanish Grand Prix
    3rd June 2023
    by Emer Hedderman
    FormulaSpy

    Results (Classification):
    1. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing -1:13.664
    2. Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing +0.250
    3. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +0.408
    4. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari +0.576
    5. Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +0.600
    6. George Russell Mercedes +0.614
    7. Charles Leclerc Scuderia Ferrari +0.689
    8. Valtteri Bottas Alfa Romeo +0.696
    9. Yuki Tsunoda AlphaTauri +0.995
    10. Lando Norris McLaren +1.017

    ‘Spanish Grand Prix – Here are the complete results from the final practice session ahead of this weekend’s 2023 F1 World Championship race in Barcelona’;

    https://formulaspy.com/f1/fp3-third-...and-prix-82313


    AS IT HAPPENED: Follow all the action from third practice for the Spanish Grand Prix
    03 June 2023
    Becky Hart
    Special Contributor
    Formula One - Official Site

    ‘AS IT HAPPENED’;

    https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...Ov2rSzXdv.html


    F1 Spanish Grand Prix - Final practice & Qualifying - LIVE UPDATES!
    3rd June 2023, 11:23
    Reporting By: Connor McDonagh
    Crash.Net

    Follow all of the F1 action this weekend from the Spanish Grand Prix here with the Crash.net live blog.

    ‘LIVE UPDATES!’;

    https://www.crash.net/f1/live/f1-spa...g-live-updates


    Verstappen tops Spanish GP final practice as Hamilton third
    The Red Bull driver was over two tenths faster than teammate Sergio Perez.
    June 3, 2023
    By Matt Neill
    Total Motorsport

    Max Verstappen once again was top of the timing charts in final practice ahead of qualifying for the Spanish GP. The Red Bull driver was 0.250s faster than teammate Sergio Perez at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, while Lewis Hamilton showed significant improvement for Mercedes in third.

    Home favourites Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso were fourth and fifth in the session, ahead of the second Mercedes of George Russell, with Charles Leclerc back in seventh for Ferrari. Valtteri Bottas was eighth for Alfa Romeo, with the AlphaTauri of Yuki Tsunoda and Lando Norris of McLaren rounding out the top ten.

    Sargeant in the gravel. The session came under red flags after just ten minutes of running when the Williams of Logan Sargeant slid off into the gravel at Turn 1. The drivers were slow to make their way back out on track once the session resumed as the rain started to come down in Barcelona, with most coming back out on intermediate tyres and a number struggling for grip.

    ‘Red Bull driver was over two tenths faster’;

    https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...amilton-third/


    Spain GP FP3: A damp squib with Max Verstappen P1 before rain came down
    03 Jun 2023 12:32 PM
    Michelle Foster
    PlanetF1.com

    Max Verstappen was quickest in the opening 10 minutes of Saturday’s final practice for the Spanish Grand Prix, after which the rain changed the complexion of the session. With rain forecast for 12:40 local time, light to start with and then increasing in intensity as George Russell was told, the drivers were quickly out onto the track for the start of the third and final practice at the Barcelona circuit.

    Out on the soft Pirellis, Verstappen immediately went P1 with a 1:13.6, a quarter of a second up on Sergio Perez, with Lewis Hamilton P3 in the early running. Ferrari were also quickly out with their new-look sidepods – Carlos Sainz up to fourth place and Charles Leclerc P7 as the rain began to intensify.

    Russell reported that, while it was raining, the “track just doesn’t seem that wet”… and, moments later, Ocon had a moment on the lines. Despite being given an extra set of intermediate tyres, some of the drivers – including Lewis Hamilton – climbed out of their cars with Mercedes’ Bradley Lord declaring the driver knew “well enough” what needed to be done.

    ‘A damp squib’;

    https://www.planetf1.com/news/spain-...23-fp3-report/


    Spanish GP: Verstappen goes fastest before rain hits in Practice 3
    03 June 2023
    Ben Issatt
    Inside Racing

    Max Verstappen went fastest before rain arrived in Practice 3 at the Spanish Grand Prix. With a thunderstorm approaching, drivers rushed out on track to get some dry running on the soft tyres.

    But the rush still wouldn't be enough to prevent Verstappen from claiming P1 with a 1m13.664, a quarter of a second clear of Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez. Lewis Hamilton reported poor driveability from his Mercedes but was still able to claim third ahead of the two Spaniards, Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso.

    Lando Norris was the first to venture out for a lap on intermediates with the two Ferraris following a few minutes later. But while there was definite rain falling the circuit never got properly wet, meaning the tyres only lasted a handful of laps before chunking up and degrading.

    ‘Verstappen goes fastest’;

    https://www.insideracing.com/formula...-in-practice-3


    Verstappen stays on top as Sargeant crashes in rain-hit final practice
    2023 Spanish Grand Prix third practice
    Posted on 3rd June 2023, 12:50
    Written by Will Wood

    Max Verstappen continued his run of topping every session in Barcelona as rain affected final practice ahead of qualifying. The championship leader set the quickest time of the weekend so far with his only push lap early in third practice to go a quarter-of-a-second faster than team mate Sergio Perez. Rain then fell on the circuit, leading to Logan Sargeant crashing his Williams.

    Lewis Hamilton was third for Mercedes as drivers’ fastest times were all set in the opening 10 minutes. With dark clouds hanging ominously in the horizon, there was a big rush out onto the Circuit de Catalunya as the final hour of practice began. All drivers headed out on soft tyres in an effort to perform a quick qualifying simulation run while they could, with Perez going quickest of all with a 1’13.914 ahead of the Mercedes pair of Hamilton and George Russell.

    The chequered flag flew at the end of the hour, with Verstappen on top of the order, two-and-a-half tenths ahead of his team mate Perez. Hamilton’s best time from the early running put him third for Mercedes, with the two local favourites of Sainz and Alonso fourth and fifth. Russell was sixth ahead of Leclerc’s Ferrari. Valtteri Bottas,Yuki Tsunoda and Norris completed the top 10.

    ‘Sargeant crashes in rain-hit final practice’;

    https://www.racefans.net/2023/06/03/...inal-practice/

  8. #378
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    Verstappen takes dominant Spanish GP pole as big names make early exits.
    Verstappen‘s teammate and nearest title challenger Sergio Perez endured another poor Saturday, scraping through Q1 before running off track in Q2 and finishing 11th, giving the Dutchman another great chance to extend his championship lead. June 3, 2023.
    By Andrew Wright
    Total Motorsport

    Max Verstappen dominated a dramatic qualifying for the 2023 Spanish Grand Prix to take his fourth pole position of the season, as a number of big names made early exits in Barcelona. The world champion topped all three practice sessions at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and made it a clean sweep over a single lap courtesy of a 1:12.272s that was good enough to beat Carlos Sainz by 0.462s.

    “The car was really good,” Verstappen told Sky Sports F1. “Qualifying was really tricky with the weather but once it started to dry out, and in Q3, the car was on rails. It was really enjoyable to drive today. I love coming to Barcelona, I love the track, I love the fans – they love racing. I have a lot of great memories here and hopefully tomorrow we can have another one.”

    ‘Verstappen takes dominant Spanish GP pole’;

    https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...es-exit-early/


    Qualifying Results – 2023 Spanish Grand Prix
    3rd June 2023
    by Emer Hedderman
    FormulaSpy

    Results (Classification):
    Q3
    1. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing -1:12.272
    2. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari +0.462
    3. Lando Norris McLaren +0.520
    4. Pierre Gasly Alpine +0.544
    5. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +0.546
    6. Lance Stroll Aston Martin +0.722
    7. Esteban Ocon Alpine +0.811
    8. Nico Hulkenberg Haas +0.957
    9. Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +1.235
    10. Oscar Piastri McLaren +1.410

    ‘Spanish Grand Prix – Here are the complete results from qualifying for tomorrow’s 2023 F1 World Championship race in Barcelona’;

    https://formulaspy.com/f1/qualifying...and-prix-82323


    LIVE COVERAGE: Follow all the action from qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix
    03 June 2023
    Becky Hart
    Special Contributor.
    Formula One - Official Site

    ‘As it happened’;

    https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...oNwlTRZQ9.html


    Mercedes teammates Hamilton and Russell collide in Spanish GP qualifying
    The drivers came together in an incident on the main straight in Barcelona during Q2.
    June 3, 2023
    By Matt Neill
    Total Motorsport

    Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell made contact during the second qualifying session for the Spanish GP in a bizarre incident. Hamilton claimed that Russell had eased off down the main straight of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya during Q2 as he was coming up to the back of his teammate, forcing the seven-time champion to the outside and bringing the two cars together.

    The Mercedes team were able to repair the damage to Hamilton’s car in time for Q3 with a new front wing, while Russell was eliminated in Q2 in 12th alongside the Red Bull of Sergio Perez. Hamilton will start the race in Spain from fifth, with Max Verstappen once again taking pole position.

    ‘Hamilton and Russell collide’;

    https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...gp-qualifying/


    Lewis Hamilton slams "dangerous" George Russell after Spanish GP qualifying collision
    Towards the end of Q2 in Barcelona, Russell and Hamilton made contact which broke the seven-time world champion's front wing and made him furious with his team-mate
    15:56, 3 Jun 2023
    By Daniel Moxon F1 Writer

    Lewis Hamilton slammed team-mate George Russell for a "really dangerous" move which caused damage to his Mercedes. It happened towards the end of Q2 as the two British drivers were trying to complete their final flying laps. Russell had the DRS open while Hamilton had a nice slipstream behind a car in front of him, meaning they both arrived at a corner at around the same time.

    But Russell did not leave enough room for his team-mate on the track, forcing Hamilton onto the grass. There was also contact between them which ripped off the right front wing endplate off the more experienced Brit's car, and which left him very unhappy. He made as much clear over the radio as he reported the problem it had created. He said: "George just backed off. That's really dangerous. I might have some damage on the car."

    Fortunately for Hamilton, he had already gone fast enough to secure his place in Q3 and was able to get a front wing replacement for the final part of qualifying. Russell, who was apologetic over the radio, was not so lucky as he only went 12th fastest

    ‘That's really dangerous’;

    https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...fying-30147532


    F1 qualifying results: Verstappen on pole for Spanish Grand Prix, Leclerc to start P19
    The F1 circus invades Barcelona this weekend
    Sat, Jun 3, 2023, 3:14 PM
    John Parker
    Yahoo! Sports: Dr. Saturday (Weblog)

    Hamilton fastest in Q1, Leclerc eliminated. After a frustrating Friday in which Lewis Hamilton mused he might be out early in qualifying, the Mercedes driver turned the fastest lap in Q1 with a 1:12.937. Last year's pole-sitter Charles Leclerc complained about his rear tires throughout the session and was eliminated, along with Valtteri Bottas, Kevin Magnussen, Alexander Albon and Logan Sargeant.

    Perez, Russell out Q2. Red Bull's Sergio Perez and Mercedes' George Russell were surprisingly eliminated in Q2, along with Zhou Guanyu, Nyck de Vries and Yuki Tsunoda. Perez went into the gravel early in his final flying lap, forcing him to abort and try again on now-dirty tires. Russell made contact with teammate Lewis Hamilton late in the session as well. Perez's teammate Max Verstappen was fastest in the session, clocking a 1:12.760.

    ‘Verstappen on pole’;

    https://sports.yahoo.com/f1-qualifyi...MFRxQ7zMwfsF5O


    Charles Leclerc fumes at Ferrari's "weird behaviour" amid Spanish GP qualifying shocker
    Leclerc was on pole for the Spanish Grand Prix last year but endured a torrid session this time around, as one of the best qualifiers on the grid was slower than all other drivers except one
    15:32, 3 Jun 2023
    By Daniel Moxon F1 Writer
    The Mirror

    Leclerc was on pole for the Spanish Grand Prix last year but endured a torrid session this time around, as one of the best qualifiers on the grid was slower than all other drivers except one. In Q1, by the time everyone had taken the chequered flag, only Logan Sargeant was below him on the timesheets. After having it confirmed over the radio that he had qualified 19th, Leclerc simply responded: "Unbelievable."

    Unsurprisingly, he sounded very irritable as he faced the TV cameras as the rest of the session continued. Leclerc said: "I don't have the answer for now. The left hand corners were undriveable.”

    "There's something off in the left hand corners that we need to analyse and understand it was very far off what I expected. I thought it was the tyres on the first set, but I went on to the second set and it was exactly the same.”

    "Unbelievable";

    https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...elona-30147380

  9. #379
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    Winners and losers from the 2023 Spanish Grand Prix qualifying.
    Another action packed qualifying session as Max Verstappen rose above his competitors to take pole for the Spanish Grand Prix.
    03 Jun 2023 8:00 PM
    Sam Cooper
    PlanetF1.com

    Winners: Max Verstappen - On a day when everyone struggled around him, Max Verstappen put in an effortless performance to secure pole yet again. Lando Norris - A very impressive performance from Norris as he secured his best qualifying result of the season so far. Nico Hülkenberg - It may be one of the lesser spotted stories but Nico Hülkenberg has quietly gone about his business since his return to Formula 1.

    Losers: Charles Leclerc - Truth be told, Leclerc has not really looked quick all weekend. Sergio Perez - If the Monaco Grand Prix was the closing of the lid, qualifying in Spain was the final nail in the coffin of Sergio Perez’s title ambitions. George Russell - If a team boss could make a list of things they do not want to happen in a qualifying session then ‘your drivers crashing into each other’ would be pretty high up there.

    ‘Winners and losers’;

    https://www.planetf1.com/features/wi...ix-qualifying/


    Lewis Hamilton offered Spanish Grand Prix boost as FIA hand out Pierre Gasly penalty
    Lewis Hamilton qualified fifth behind Pierre Gasly for the Spanish Grand Prix but the Alpine star has landed himself in hot water with the FIA.
    19:52, Sat, Jun 3, 2023
    By Joe Krishnan
    Daily and Sunday Express

    Lewis Hamilton has been handed a major boost ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix after the Mercedes star could only qualify fifth at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The race stewards investigated Gasly after the session had concluded as footage appeared to show the Alpine driver impeding both Verstappen and Sainz in separate incidents. The Alpine driver was demoted to 10th following a double penalty from the FIA.

    ‘Major boost’;

    https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...enalty-F1-news


    F1 Spanish Grand Prix starting grid: How today’s race will begin
    4 Jun 2023
    Lewis Larkam
    Crash.Net

    2023 F1 Spanish Grand Prix - STARTING GRID
    Pos. Driver Nat. Team
    1 Max Verstappen NED Oracle Red Bull Racing
    2 Carlos Sainz ESP Scuderia Ferrari
    3 Lando Norris GBR McLaren F1 Team
    4 Lewis Hamilton GBR Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team
    5 Lance Stroll CAN Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team
    6 Esteban Ocon FRA BWT Alpine F1 Team
    7 Nico Hulkenberg GER MoneyGram Haas F1 Team
    8 Fernando Alonso ESP Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team
    9 Oscar Piastri AUS McLaren F1 Team
    10 Pierre Gasly FRA BWT Alpine F1 Team

    ‘This is how Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix, round seven of the 2023 F1 world championship, will begin...’;

    https://www.crash.net/f1/results/102...ace-will-begin


    Helmut Marko: Sergio Perez getting ‘wake-up call’ from World Championship ‘dream’
    04 Jun 2023 6:00 AM
    Oliver Harden
    PlanetF1.com

    Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko believes it is time for Sergio Perez to “wake up” and forget about winning the Formula 1 title after his latest qualifying disaster at the Spanish Grand Prix. He told Sky Deutschland: “With Sergio, things have not been going well since Monte Carlo. He needs to concentrate more on racing, not on the title. I hope he recovers himself.

    “The whole weekend it was already the case that he was three-to-five tenths slower. It’s now the second consecutive weekend [with problems]. Checo is getting a relatively hard wake-up call now, but I’m sure he’ll pick himself up again.”

    ‘Wake-up call’;

    https://www.planetf1.com/news/helmut...perez-wake-up/


    Turn five error ended my chance of reaching Q3 – Perez
    2023 Spanish Grand Prix
    Posted on 3rd June 2023, 19:25
    Written by Will Wood and Claire Cottingham

    Sergio Perez says his qualifying session was effectively over after his trip through the gravel at turn five before his elimination in Q2. The Red Bull driver was knocked out in Q2 in 11th place. Nico Hulkenberg beat him to the final place in Q3 by 0.051 seconds. It is the second successive event in which Perez failed to reach Q3, following his crash during qualifying last weekend in Monaco.

    Speaking to media including RaceFans after the session, Perez said the mistake at turn five had ultimately cost him his place in the top 10. “The conditions were tricky and I ended up losing the car into turn five,” Perez explained. “Once we lost it, the tyres were too warm, too hot, and I couldn’t get them back to a good temperature window and I just didn’t have the grip on my final lap, which was a shame.”

    ‘Turn five error’;

    https://www.racefans.net/2023/06/03/...hing-q3-perez/


    Carlos Sainz sets ambitious Ferrari target after ‘needed’ Spanish GP qualifying result
    03 Jun 2023 7:15 PM
    Oliver Harden
    PlanetF1.com

    Carlos Sainz is aiming to secure his first podium finish of the F1 2023 season at the Spanish Grand Prix after admitting he “needed” a breakthrough result in qualifying in Barcelona.

    “It was super tight, very, very tricky conditions out there today and even getting through Q1/Q2 without any issues and putting [together] a good lap only with one set in Q3 was probably one of the most tricky qualis I’ve had here in Barcelona in terms of conditions.”

    “So I think P2 is as far as I could make it today and that 12.7 [was] a pretty good lap.”;

    https://www.planetf1.com/news/carlos...et-spanish-gp/


    Lando Norris plays down McLaren performance improvement
    Lando Norris qualified a surprise third for the 2023 Spanish GP in the McLaren
    June 3, 2023
    By Ed Spencer
    Total Motorsport

    After having his final lap scuppered in Monaco, Norris enjoyed a stellar qualifying session in Barcelona, setting the third-fastest time and securing McLaren’s first top-three starting position of 2023.

    “Nothing’s really changed on the car,” Norris told media, including Total-Motorsport.com. “As much as I’d love to say, Oh, the car [is] improving, it’s not changed much. I think just going into qualifying, things started to come alive at all, a little bit more confidence with the rears and to lean on the car and tyres. Where we’re going to be tomorrow is a tough one.”

    ‘Qualified a surprise third’;

    https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...nt-spanish-gp/


    More passing? Multiple stops? Rain? Only the winner seems not in doubt
    2023 Spanish Grand Prix pre-race analysis
    Posted on 3rd June 2023, 23:45
    Written by Will Wood
    RaceFans

    After Red Bull’s rivals invested many hundreds of thousands of working hours developing their upgrades packages in pursuit of the RB19, Max Verstappen took little more than 72 seconds to destroy their hopes. “Overall, the whole weekend, it has been really enjoyable to drive the car,” Verstappen said after taking his fourth pole of the season. “It was really hooked up.”

    But behind Verstappen, the battle that threatens to erupt over the final podium places should give fans every reason for excitement. Remarkably, the top seven places on the grid are all occupied by seven different teams. Less than half a second covered Carlos Sainz Jnr in second to Nico Hulkenberg, who will line up seventh for Sunday’s race courtesy of Pierre Gasly’s double penalty promoting him and five others.

    All six drivers lining up behind Verstappen have every reason to be targeting solid points at a minimum and even a podium at best – with second-placed Sainz expecting the competition to be fierce among that group in the race.

    ‘More passing? Multiple stops? Rain?’;

    https://www.racefans.net/2023/06/03/...-not-in-doubt/


    F1 Spanish GP: 7 questions that will decide Barcelona’s winner
    21:46 Sat, 03 Jun 2023.
    By Luke Smith and Madeline Coleman
    The Athletic

    Can Verstappen capitalize on another Pérez setback? Sergio Pérez said after his disappointing run to 16th in Monaco, where he was lapped twice by Verstappen, that he could afford no more zero-scores to stand any chance of winning this year’s championship.

    Will Sainz or Alonso lead Spain’s home podium hopes? It’s truly a toss up. Will upgrades change the competitive order? Spain marked the arrival of a handful of F1 car upgrades, most notably on the Ferrari, which has abandoned its “bathtub” sidepods in favor of a more Red Bull-style design.

    Can McLaren capitalize on Norris’s unexpected P3? Lando Norris was shocked after he clinched third place in qualifying and quickly tamped down expectations for race day.

    ‘7 questions’;

    https://theathletic.com/4577852/2023...x-formula-one/


    Verstappen “on another level” but we should’ve been right behind him – Wolff
    2023 Spanish Grand Prix
    Posted on 3rd June 2023, 20:133rd June 2023, 23:49
    Written by Keith Collantine and Claire Cottingham
    RaceFans

    “That’s why the disappointment is big because we expected more,” Wolff continued. “Having said that, if you look at the gaps it was very, very compressed with everyone. You can get it wrong easily. You can see that Leclerc is out in Q1, Perez is out in Q2, so that’s a bit of a mystery today,” he added. “The wind changed 180 degrees and some were caught out, maybe, because of that.”

    ‘Toto Wolff says…’;

    https://www.racefans.net/2023/06/03/...ind-him-wolff/

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    Verstappen dominates in Spain as Mercedes get double podium.
    Spanish Grand Prix – Aside from a first corner challenge, Max Verstappen was untouchable in Spain as he beat the Mercedes by over twenty seconds.
    4th June 2023
    by Emer Hedderman
    FormulaSpy

    It was almost a perfect start for the Spanish crowd as Sainz challenged for the lead at the first corner but Verstappen had the inside and was able to hold station. It was disaster for Norris though as and Hamilton made contact and the McLaren driver had to pit for a new nose and hard tyres at the end of the opening lap.

    In the end the rain stayed away and Verstappen took the chequered flag 24 seconds ahead of Hamilton, the Dutch driver also taking the fastest lap, a 1:16.330. Russell came home in P3 to give Mercedes a double podium and take his first of the season.

    Perez took P4 ahead of Sainz as the Aston Martins took the flag line astern in P6 and P7. Unfortunately for Alonso his worst result of the season comes at his home race, his previous worst had been P4 in Baku. Ocon was P8 while, as a result of Tsunoda’s time penalty, Zhou took P9 with Pierre Gasly taking the final point in P10.

    ‘Max dominates’;

    https://formulaspy.com/f1/verstappen...e-podium-82394


    Race Results – 2023 Spanish Grand Prix
    4th June 2023
    by Emer Hedderman
    FormulaSpy

    Results (Classification):
    1. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing -66 laps
    2. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +24.090
    3. George Russell Mercedes +32.389
    4. Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing +35.812
    5. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari +45.698
    6. Lance Stroll Aston Martin +63.320
    7. Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +64.127
    8. Esteban Ocon Alpine +69.242
    9. Zhou Guanyu Alfa Romeo +71.878
    10. Pierre Gasly Alpine +73.530

    ‘Spanish Grand Prix – Here are the complete (provisional) results from today’s 2023 F1 World Championship race from Barcelona’;

    https://formulaspy.com/f1/race-resul...and-prix-82391


    AS IT HAPPENED: Follow all the action from the 2023 Spanish Grand Prix
    04 June 2023
    Becky Hart
    Special Contributor
    Formula One - Official Site

    ‘AS IT HAPPENED’;

    https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...ta3h3R51I.html


    Mercedes ROAR back at Spanish GP as Verstappen claims F1 victory in Barcelona
    Sunday 4 June 2023 16:47
    Matthew Hobkinson
    GPFans

    Max Verstappen drove to victory at the Spanish Grand Prix, after Mercedes showed their pace to see Lewis Hamilton and George Russell claim podium finishes at Barcelona. Verstappen took the chequered flag in first place for the fifth time this season, ahead of Hamilton and Russell in second and third respectively in a much-improved showing for the Silver Arrows.

    Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz would round off the top five, after the Red Bull driver failed to catch up with Russell in the dying stages of the race. An action-packed start, as Verstappen held off an aggressive start from Sainz heading into the first corner, the action was unfolding just behind.

    Norris, starting in third, made contact with Hamilton as the McLaren's front wing touched the left-rear tyre of the Mercedes at turn two. It was a disastrous start for Norris as he was forced into the pits to replace his front wing, dropping down to 20th as a result of the incident.

    ‘ROAR back’;

    https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...-f1-barcelona/


    F1 Spanish GP: Max Verstappen romps to victory as Lewis Hamilton leads double Mercedes podium
    4 Jun 2023
    Lewis Larkam
    Crash.Net

    Max Verstappen cruised to a crushing victory at the F1 Spanish Grand Prix as Lewis Hamilton led a double Mercedes podium. Aside from having to fend off Carlos Sainz’s attack into Turn 1 at the start, Verstappen breezed to his third consecutive win as he racked up his 40th grand prix victory.

    The two-time world champion’s fifth win in seven races has seen him further strengthen his position at the top of the drivers’ world championship, with teammate Sergio Perez enduring another difficult weekend. Having survived first-lap contact with McLaren’s Lando Norris, Hamilton claimed a distant second place behind Verstappen as Mercedes upgraded W14 demonstrated impressive race pace.

    ‘Double Mercedes podium’;

    https://www.crash.net/f1/race-report...le-merc-podium


    Max Verstappen celebrates 40th F1 win with crushing Spanish Grand Prix victory
    4th June 2023, 16:01
    Charlen Raymond
    Wheels24

    Max Verstappen turned up the pace again to win the Spanish Grand Prix for the third time in his Formula 1 career.

    The Red Bull driver led from start to finish and was never under threat from any of the racers around him. Even at the start, when Ferrari's Carlos Sainz launched an attack on the Soft tyre, the Dutchman defended on the Mediums and never looked back.

    Verstappen is in a league of his own in 2023 and has already amassed five wins from the season's opening seven races. "Yeah, good race that," the driver said as he celebrated his 40th F1 victory. "It's a big pleasure to drive with a car like this. A win here, it's incredible."

    ‘40th F1 win’;

    https://www.news24.com/sport/motorsp...ctory-20230604

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